The Phenomenon Of Vote Buying In Nigeria -By Obebe Michael Damilola

Vote buying in Nigeria is incontrovertibly the major factor militating against the nation’s quest for a true Democracy. This practice is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of our political system in Nigeria today, even to many independent states in Africa. Vote Buying, in its conceptual clarification, is synonymous to Money politics; which is defined as a phenomenon in the Nigeria political process whereby contenders for elective positions used money or money is being used on their behalf as an inducement to sway their support, which is not based on persuading the electorates to vote according to their wish and conviction but on the force of money that has a changed hand. (Ovwasu O. Lucky, ph.D).

Apart from the June 12 annulled general election, which according to political analysts is adjudged as the most free and fairest election ever held in the country, the Fourth Republic elections, both at the federal, state and local levels are no doubt a manipulative hand-made of vote buying. Even the Second Republic elections are not excepted from this act. Over the years, Vote Buying had been a political culture in our political landscape, which dubious and desperate political personnel uses to mastermind their selfish interests. 

This article will turn a search light on some of its effect to our Democracy and also to the country at large.

Merely looking at the country today, coupled with her possession of numerous mineral and natural resources, it is easy to conclude that her major problem is bad leadership. But the question we should ask ourselves is, ‘How do these bad and unperceptive leaders get to the reins of our political affairs?’ There is no doubt that many of these sleaze play on the ignorance of our people by finding their ways into public offices through Vote Buying. Since the inception of Democracy in Nigeria and Her transition from military rule, Vote Buying has been a common trend in our polity. The Second Republic elections were spearheaded by money-in-the-bag politicians who were formerly arm traders during the civil war (1967-1970), ministers or contractors of the destructive public amenities after the war. There was so much display of  affluence and use of money by the wealthy contractors and the merchantile class that those who emerged victorious in the conventions and the primaries of some of the political parties, notably the National Party of Nigeria(NPN), the Nigerian people’s Party(NPP) and the Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN) belongs to the business managerial group (Davies, 2006). But the Fourth Republic politicians escalated this practices not only with the electorates, but among INEC officials, Judiciary and election tribunals. A case similar to this was the political incident of the Osun State Gubernatorial election in 2007 which presented Rauf Aregbeshola of the Action Congress (AC) and the then incumbent governor of the state, Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, of the People’s Democratic party (PDP). The election was conducted and held in favour of Olagunsoye, but Aregbeshola appealed to the First Elections Petitions Tribunal that also ruled in favour of Olagunsoye. The AC accused the First Elections Petitions Tribunal of side-lining the PDP, that there were robust and unhealthy relationship between them and Olagunsoye’s council. This legal battle proceeded for two years until a high court at Ibadan where Aregbeshola later appealed to, set aside the judgement of the First Elections Petitions Tribunals and ordered that Aregbeshola be sworn in as the governor of the state on 27th November, 2010. There are several accusations of vote buying in electoral poll with video evidences in the past elections conducted in Nigeria, but a lot of these accusations were not apprehended by the Electoral body and the government.

These acts pose a great danger to our Democracy and even to the country at large, but before will consider the effect of this scandalous act, some of its immediate causes should not be ignored.

Democracy has been adjudged and recommended as the most suitable system of government that culminates the decisions and participation of every adult individual in our state today, but a lot of people are still ignorant about this. Many individuals in Nigeria, particularly the illiterates sees Election as a way of selecting another set of political leaders, but do not know that voting during the election is their right to be exercised in determining the kind of people who will rule them. This ignorance is the major advantage the dubious politicians in the state use to sway the right of these illiterates who do not know the essence of Democracy.

Also, the political apathy and cynicism on the part of Nigerians who believe politics is a ‘Dirty game’ and the whole electoral process is a dishonest and immoral engagement. Apathy of the people towards elections, that the whole electoral gathering does not count, that it would all be rigged in farvour of an unpopular candidate who does not represent the interest and choices of the people. Likewise, Cynicism: a belief that public officers are corrupt, bankrupt, immoral and incompetent. This belief is accentuated by the past governments’ failed promises. This attitudinal approach and belief towards politics and elections is complementary towards Vote Buying, because they see public offices as an avenue where the national cake is being shared, that many people and electorates in the state (including them) are not opportuned to this place, therefore, selling their vote is their only share of the national cake. 

Although, Poverty is the major and core cause of Vote Buying in Nigeria. In a country whereby average percentage of her population feed below $1.93 per day. Such a population can sell any of their fundamental entitlement in exchange for money because money seems the only antedote of their affliction. It is very easy to manipulate these people towards a candidate who is whether or not their choice for money, whether competent or incompetent. According to PLO Lumumber, ‘Africans are not moved by ideas, their stomachs lead them. What stimulate the African electorates is instant solutions’.

This phenomenon poses a great danger to both Democratism and national development. Some of these effect are therefore analysed below.

When political candidates secure their entrance into public offices by Vote Buying, it bridles illegitimacy in our state. A legitimate government is that who enjoys not only the acceptance of the people, but also their trust, cooperation and support. Legitimacy as a political concept is a prospect of Democracy, because when the people are left to freely and objectively decide who should rule them, they will unanimously bear with the government’s administrations and support its policies because they are the product of their choices. This kind of government freely coordinates the people without any application of force. But reverse is the case with illegitimate government, which is the case in Nigeria today.

Undoubtedly, Vote Buying is a hindrance to a true and fair Democracy. In a liberal perspective, Democracy is defined as a system of government that allows the citizens in a state the Freedom to choose their representatives through election at regular intervals. But with Vote Buying, people who are not a true representation, interest and choice of the people emerge into political offices, thereby compromising the efficacy of Democracy.

It is also important to understand that Vote Buying is a saboteur to national development and a bane of good governance. With Vote Buying, the Dividends of Democracy, which are certain things the people should enjoy in the state becomes unaccessible. This is because unscrupulous, incompetent and bankrupt individual assume political offices who will in-turn embezzle public funds in order to maintain their financial balance. These Dividends include quality education, infrastructures, quality health services and many more. This practice will not only affect the people of Nigeria, but also her national development.

However, this phenomenon does not only imperil Democracy and the national development of Nigeria. It also tarnish the image of the country among comity of nations due to corruption and electoral offenses. This would affect the relations of the country at international levels, and may crumble the socio-political and economic inter-dependence of Nigeria between the Democratic nations of the world. When this happens, it reduces the nation’s respect at confederational bodies and may attract political and economic sanctions.

Moreover, Vote Buying also deepens and worsens the rate of poverty in Nigeria. In 1999, The United Nations Human Development Index rated Nigeria as the 16th poorest state in the world. Also, in a recent survey data of 2018, the HDI, in their Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) reported that 46.4% of the population (90,919 thousand people) are multidimensionally poor while an additional 19.2% are classified as vulnerable to multidimensional poverty (37,659 thousand people). It is therefore pertinent to understand that this percentage would increases in recent years due to the disruptive economic set-back of the covid19 pandemic of the year 2020. Poverty may arise from ethical economic mismanagement due to the incompetency and corruptedness of vote-bought public office holders who rule without caring about the well-being of the people.

Vote Buying is a trend in a political system in Nigeria today, but despite its escalation and how deep it has eaten into the fabrics of our Democracy, it can be curtailed to a barest minimum if not eradicated. Some of these measures are stated below.

The ignorance among the illiterate Nigerians is the most effective cause of Vote Buying in the country. Therefore, before we can attain a true and fair Democracy devoid of electoral malpractices, higher percentage of Nigerians must be truly educated. This development will help the people and our society at large to understand their rights and the multi-lateral effects of Vote Buying.

The Electoral bodies and the civil organizations in Nigeria should prioritize an effective sensitisation and awareness programs to the people in order to know their political rights in the state. These programs can be broadcast on national TV, radio and also by direct contact with the people.

Also, the attitudinal approach and perception of Nigerians towards election and holding public offices should be re-oriented. Majority do not see election as a democratic process, but they see as a buy and sell engagement. Likewise, our perception towards holding public offices is wrong. Nigerians especially the political class do not see it as a call to serve humanity, but as an enterprise to siphon public funds for personal gain and aggrandizement. This Africanised primordial orientation and psychology needs to be re-oriented; it is distructive to Democracy.

Furthermore, the government and the electoral body in Nigeria should re-model our electoral medium to a digital one like the America, where all citizens can vote from the comfort of their home. This development will curtail Vote Buying since the voter does it in their home and do not need a gathering before they could cast their vote.

Importantly, the government should improve and diversify the economy of Nigeria for the common good of all her citizens. It will be delusional to fight Vote Buying in Nigeria without first tackling the wide rate of poverty among the people.

Obebe Michael Damilola is a student of Adekunle Ajasin university, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Department of English and literary studies. He’s a political enthusiast, passionate creative writer and essayist.